Shame on The Denver Post for printing the hate speech of Rich Tosches. I’m not shocked that someone could be so mean-spirited, but I was floored to actually see his offensive rant in the newspaper. He claims that people from the Southern states are “dumb” and that is why they voted for Mitt Romney, while the “smart” states voted for President Obama. He proceeds to mock Southerners by stereotyping them as coon hunters who live in trailers and de-bone possums with their teeth. Does nonsense like this do anything to bring our country together?
Going to college doesn’t necessarily make someone “smart” (look at Mr. Tosches), and lack of formal education doesn’t mean someone deserves to be ridiculed (look at Abraham Lincoln).

Cindi Krebs, Denver

This letter was published in the Nov. 18 edition.

Rich Tosches’ superficial analysis of the presidential election amounted to the ranting of a schoolyard bully. By analyzing one tiny little sector of the vote, he comes to the conclusion that dumb states voted for Mitt Romney while smart states voted for Barack Obama. If he were just a tad bit more enlightened, he could have come to another conclusion. Those states that voted for Obama contained the highest percentage of welfare, government services and debt. His entire column amounted to hate speech to me. The Post should have declined to run a column that sets out to humiliate a great deal of the population by calling them names and labeling them as stupid.

Michael R. Hudson, Pueblo

This letter was published in the Nov. 18 edition.

Rich Tosches’ article documented the direct relationship between level of education and party affiliation — i.e., more educated vote Democratic. This is supported by other studies. For both the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, states with the highest average IQs voted Democratic and those states with lower IQs voted Republican. I have no idea why those less-educated have allegiance to the Republican Party since these folks tend to be middle class and often need some type of assistance from the state or federal governments, and such assistance programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, etc.) of which the Republican Party opposes. For myself, I’m happy to pay higher taxes to help the less fortunate in our society.

Martin Allen, Centennial

This letter was published in the Nov. 18 edition.

Rich Tosches’ column ignited my sassy, Southern side. Then I remembered a key principle of Southernism: politeness. So instead of rage I will offer different statistics.

According to philanthropy.com, the nine states with the highest percentage of givers are red: Utah, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Idaho, Arkansas, Georgia and North Carolina. The six worst are blue: New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The principles Democrats embrace are taxing the wealthy and creating a stronger working class. However, the blue states seem to like the government footing the bill while keeping their money tucked safely in their wallet.

My Southern upbringing instilled a belief that we are morally responsible for helping our neighbor. This is not a government responsibility but a personal one.

Trailer parks and poor people are not unique to red states. It is disheartening that Tosches would ridicule our nation’s disadvantaged. I understand he was trying to be satirical, but the key word is trying. Maybe his article would have been funny if the red states actually won. As it stands, it just comes across as hateful. The only thing worse than being a sore loser is being a sore winner.

April Driver, Erie

This letter was published in the Nov. 18 edition.

I was thinking the exact same thing as Rich Tosches about dumb states as I was pulling into Starbucks for my daily venti mocha dry skim latte. NPR was doing a fascinating program on the plight of arugula farmers in the Upper Comayagua Valley of Honduras (just think what that will do to prices at Chez Philippe!), so I lingered in my Chevy Volt awhile longer. I was somewhat miffed for several reasons. Among them, my New York Times was late, and I had to content myself with watching a replay of Rachel Maddow.

Can you believe that anyone would not vote for President Obama? He is so smart (not to mention cool)! I mean, J-Lo and Beyoncé endorsed him — how much more does one want? I could go on forever, but have to drive to my night-school class, “The Social Impact of Orthodox Albanian Gypsies on the Political Culture of Post-World War I Hungary.”

Paul Lebras, Arlington, Va.

This letter was published in the Nov. 18 edition.

All the states, red or blue, were divided by ratios like 36:64, 45:55, and then a large number were approaching ratios like 49:51 or closer still. There are no states that are truly red or blue, but if you want to go there, pretending that they are and then interjecting the concept of “dumb” (Rich Tosches’ word, not mine), then here we go: More than half the population of this country looked at Obama’s record of out-of-control spending with no budget or plan, a deficit of now over $16 trillion and climbing fast, class warfare with all that divisive rhetoric that goes along with it together with an unprecedented war on business, also known as our job creators, and they said, “Yes! I want more of that!”

So I say good luck to all you smart guys. As to the rest of us, we’ll get back to running our businesses and we’ll do our best to make it all work in spite of you.

Nancy Hamilton, Parker

This letter was published online only.

I always had a hard time understanding why Republicans in Colorado favored drastic cuts to public education instead of attempting to fix TABOR and other past mistakes that prevent state revenues from keeping pace with current needs. After reading Rick Tosches’ recent column about the states with the lowest rates of high school education and college graduates voting Republican, it starts to make more sense.

Jeff Hindman, Berthoud

This letter was published online only.

Regardless of its intention, Rich Tosches’ column was truly offensive. Printing it discredited your paper.
Bigotry is wrong. It doesn’t matter who it is directed against.

Linda F. Willing, Grand Lake

This letter was published online only.

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28 Comments To "Replies to Tosches on column about “dumb states” voting for Romney (8 letters)"

#1 Comment By thor On November 18, 2012 @ 12:33 am

Martin made an interesting leap when he claimed that Tosches “documented” the direct relationship between level of education and party affiliation. Tosches made an inaccurate observation, nothing more. Yes, those who have allowed the higher education system indoctrinate them so that they lean liberal vote Democrat. This would happen less if colleges would be more diverse politically when hiring professors. But there are also very smart people who vote Republican.

#2 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 1:03 am

Yeah, right.
The majority of the American public is college-educated. Conservatives make up a significant of that cohort. Obviously, the indoctrination doesn’t work.
To decry inflammatory slander against conservatives by using slander against liberals defeats your point.
Try this: Conservatives and liberals want what’s best for this country. They have different ideas about “what’s best”.

#3 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 1:29 am

Mr. Lebras used sarcasm to skewer Mr. Tosches.

Mr. Allen and Mr. Hindman feed off the same sanctimony (not limited to just liberals) as Mr. Tosches does.

#4 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 2:53 am

That’s too reasonable, Peter.

#5 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 3:10 am

Yeah, I know. Darn.

#6 Comment By thor On November 18, 2012 @ 3:43 am

The column by Tosches and the letter by Martin were ridiculous. It was my responsibility to reply in kind.

#7 Comment By thor On November 18, 2012 @ 3:43 am

Yes.

#8 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 5:19 am

“Shame on The Denver Post for printing the hate speech of Rich Tosches. I’m not shocked that someone could be so mean-spirited, but I was floored to actually see his offensive rant in the newspaper”
———–
There is another “Letter” from a Mr. Williams regarding kids eating Twinkies that seems to fall under the same “guidelines” The Denver Post uses to evaluate which Letters and Columnists are “worthy” to print…….and expose to the “world” their outlandish beliefs and train of thoughts……to expose them to the ridicule they deserve……to be mocked as they deserved to be mocked…..to be didsplayed for all the world to see……exactly what so many did see: Offensive Mean-Spiritedness just for the sake of BEING both Offensive and Mean-Spirited…..and unintelligent, irrational, and unwise.

#9 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 12:59 pm

In the end, it’s all demographics and each side has their own in addition to differing takes on reality, the nation’s problems and how to address them. That’s good, otherwise we’d be stuck with a backward, singular and potentially destructive view.
Case in point: just listened to a BBC broadcast about the 50th anniversary of the publication of Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich,” which exposed the horrific evils of Stalin’s forced labor camps. One of those interviewed was a early reader of that work, who said that the Soviet Union at that time was like North Korea today, with an absolute lock on speech and freedom of expression. That’s what 1-party rule produces – in addition to mediocrity – and is not one to be emulated.

#10 Comment By Amanda On November 18, 2012 @ 5:07 pm

Although Rich Tosche’s piece was obviously offensive to some, facts are facts. The fact is that ‘red states’ use the majority of entitlement programs such as welfare, medicaid and food stamps. As these states overwhelmingly vote Republican and are voting against their own self interests, maybe ‘dumb’ is the correct word.

#11 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 6:23 pm

bwahahaha! You got ot love it when righties know who they are and who their best friends are! This is probably the biggest reality check to hit fact-checkers for decades. Republicans know this better than the left when they realize they have to “dumb down” their message to scare people by telling them outrageous lies that even a lame stream media say are not true. Look at their friends in the Tea Party.

I knew this article would strike a nerve on the right, and a funny bone on the left. While mostly tongue in cheek, like most real comedy it has to have a element of truth which this article clearly has. Micahel Hudson probably saw it on Faux News that it’s the blue states that “contain the highest percentage of welfare” when the facts – the “f-word” of the right – says otherwise ([4]) Not to mention, the red states while demanding the most Federal funding also have the least “non-paying” tax payers – where Romney’s “47% actually are located!” ([4])

#12 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 6:25 pm

Reality bites! And who it is that is always targets a certain element of our society for being too sensitive and easily offended? Turn-about fair play?

#13 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 6:31 pm

thor “personally knows” many “intelligent” Republican voters, but he’s not sure about himself. Now, as most righties do, he proceeds to slap himself for his education that he managed to ignore so not to “indoctrinate” himself.
I always “love” this argument by the right (usually jealous and dumbed down) who attack academia for being “too liberal” and how they “indoctrinate” students into liberalism. Pay no attention to the Republican campaign agenda behind the curtain of fear and loathing, that spins agenda items like birtherism, “Obama’s a muslim,” tax cuts for the rich, “it’s all about Benghazi!” The right’s way to “fix” this – hire professors like Newt, who CAN indoctrinate students into the ancient, but failing agenda of the neo-right.

#14 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 6:36 pm

That’s great bipartisan sentiment Peter, unfortunately it’s not very obvious. When we see the current Republican agenda that failed in this election it’s hard to read between the lines some where that the conservatives “want what’s best for this country.” Especially after they lose, and want to blame their loss on “gifts” to the poor ilk and claiming maybe they weren’t “winning” over Latinos and women. Even when reality b-tch slaps them in the face, they some how ask for another, by not understanding “who” just slapped them.

#15 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 6:37 pm

(where’s goodspkr and his “Nonsense!” retort when you need it, right thor!?)

#16 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 6:43 pm

Interesting that Ms. Driver wants to point out how “polite” the south is and how the red states have a higher sense of philanthropy. But fails to note which states have the highest rate of povery and receive the highest rate of Federal funding, especially welfare. While this is not about “politness” or “charity” . . . hardly a Republican value, the issue is about education and how they vote. The rest is just facts.

#17 Comment By Anonymous On November 18, 2012 @ 6:49 pm

Yes, it took intellect for Mr. Lebras to use his sarcasm on Torches, but then abandon’s his intellect to gravitate to the besmirch Obama and us liberals that we’re fans of the intellect of Beyonce and J-Lo and other “Hollywood” types. While conservative intellecualism is a well known oxymoron, the intellect of the right “usually” has to dumb it down so the rest of the conservatives. . . . “get it.”

#18 Comment By thor On November 18, 2012 @ 8:19 pm

Toohip, when someone, in their reply, puts words in quotation marks, it indicates they are quoting the other person.Since I didn’t write that I “personally know,” why did you put it in quotes. Was that a lame attempt at being clever? Just wondering.

Now, onto the only part of your replying worth addressing. (The rest being either nonsense or childish.) 1. If there was a Republican campaign agenda of fear and loathing, can you enlighten us as to what it was? 2. I didn’t hear birtherism or Obama’s a Muslim during the campaign. Who said it and when? 3. Tax cuts for the rich has never ben a platform for Republicans. We do want to reduce TAX RATES for all levels of citizens, including the rich. We can do that by reforming the tax code. Why is that bad? 4. Benghazi is worthy of investigation. Anyone who doesn’t think so is wrong. 4 Americans were killed in a terrorist attack and it was spun as a spontaneous mob action. Why don’t YOU want to know the truth. Because it will hurt your side? 6. Did I suggest hiring professors like Newt, or did I suggest balancing out the hiring so that it isn’t heavy on the left?

#19 Comment By Ms. Driver On November 18, 2012 @ 8:29 pm

Actually, my point was how statistics can be used to make either side look superior based on which statistics you site. What statistics or facts do you offer to support your opinion that Republicans are not polite or charitable? I guess I don’t understand the point of your comment. Is it that because red states are poorer and less educated that they should have voted blue? What exactly are you trying to point out by stating that red states have a higher poverty rate? I don’t get the logic behind your comment.

#20 Comment By thor On November 18, 2012 @ 10:07 pm

Most of his comments are pointless. And he has no idea that Utah is a red state and a very generous state. Also, Utah is not southern nor poor.

#21 Comment By c. snarky On November 18, 2012 @ 11:03 pm

I looked this up because I was curious. The ten “dumbest” states are FULL of minorities. It’s common knowledge that minorities tend to score horrendously on standardized tests, and are much less likely to pursue higher education. Can we break down the numbers by city, instead? How did places like Detroit, Baltimore, and Philadelphia(which are crawling with “dumb” people) vote?

#22 Comment By Anonymous On November 19, 2012 @ 4:27 am

Without tithing, Ms. Driver’s numbers would look a lot different.

#23 Comment By Anonymous On November 19, 2012 @ 4:28 am

Generous when they’re donating to their own church, yes.

#24 Comment By Old Enough On November 19, 2012 @ 12:33 pm

It struck my funny bone. I loved the duct-taped bronco beanbag! You have nailed it on this article. The defensiveness of the offended makes it even more true that Romney dumbed down the message a little too much and really reached his base..

#25 Comment By Wayne Lowe On November 19, 2012 @ 9:45 pm

White Anglo-Saxons ARE a minority now, and we need to stop acting as though minorities are the problem. The majority rules, and that is a combination of the voters who follow a party platform offered to them which best promises to solve problems and better conditions. Republicans must sell their conservative values to all segments of society and stop just assuming money talks.

#26 Comment By Wayne Lowe On November 19, 2012 @ 9:52 pm

What is “college-educated”? Do you really believe more than half of the population completed college degrees? Do you count trade schools and certification for barbers, plumbers, and auto mechanics as “college-educated?

#27 Comment By Anonymous On November 19, 2012 @ 11:00 pm

I just noticed: In this reply, you seemed to be talking to Toohip, but your reply is actually to Robtf.

#28 Comment By thor On November 19, 2012 @ 11:08 pm

Toohip,
when someone, in their reply, puts words in quotation marks, it
indicates they are quoting the other person.Since I didn’t write that I
“personally know,” why did you put it in quotes. Was that a lame
attempt at being clever? Just wondering.

Now, onto the only part of your replying worth addressing. (The rest
being either nonsense or childish.) 1. If there was a Republican
campaign agenda of fear and loathing, can you enlighten us as to what it
was? 2. I didn’t hear birtherism or Obama’s a Muslim during the
campaign. Who said it and when? 3. Tax cuts for the rich has never
ben a platform for Republicans. We do want to reduce TAX RATES for all
levels of citizens, including the rich. We can do that by reforming the
tax code. Why is that bad? 4. Benghazi is worthy of investigation.
Anyone who doesn’t think so is wrong. 4 Americans were killed in a
terrorist attack and it was spun as a spontaneous mob action. Why don’t
YOU want to know the truth. Because it will hurt your side? 6. Did I
suggest hiring professors like Newt, or did I suggest balancing out the
hiring so that it isn’t heavy on the left?